by Ashley Capes
“Then we’re doomed,” Luis said. “Maybe we should return to Ferne.”
“Maybe not,” Never said. He explained how he’d hidden supplies. “They might still be there.”
“What about you, friend?” Luis said.
“Afraid I’m going further come tomorrow.”
“You know something we don’t?” Peat asked. “Because I’ll never set foot here again, not after what we’ve seen.”
“I have this.” He produced the reed pipe from an inside pocket. “I was told the creatures don’t like music,” he shrugged. “Maybe it’s true, maybe not.”
“You have a strange sense of humour, friend,” Peat said with a shake of his head.
Luis straightened. “Wait. Don’t be too quick to dismiss it, Peat.” He leant forward. “When the creatures disappeared that night, I was humming the Ballad of Stonefist.”
Peat didn’t seem convinced. “You saying you want to go back? Thought we’d gone over this.”
“Maybe we’d have a chance now, with Never’s pipe.”
“I don’t play well,” Never added.
“I do,” Luis said. He slapped Peat’s shoulder. “Come on – let’s try again. We can catch up to Ferne and the rest and have a real chance. We could open up that inn.”
“Only if it’s at the bottom of the ocean.”
“Care for some company?” Luis asked.
Never hesitated; both men were probably safer keeping their distance, and yet, six eyes were better than two by the sounds of the sea-creatures. He probably didn’t have a choice. He offered a smile. “Wouldn’t hurt.”
“Then it’s settled,” Luis grinned.
Peat stood. “Not for me it ain’t. I don’t want to be dragged into the sea, have my blood bubbling up after.” He nodded to Never. “Share first watch with me a moment?”
“Certainly.”
Luis’ shoulders slumped. “I’ll take the last watch then.”
Peat sighed. “Listen, I’ll sleep on it, Luis. That’s all I can promise.”
He nodded as he began to lay out his sleeping gear. Never stood, gesturing to the southern end of the camp. Peat joined him but said nothing at first, only staring into the darkness between tree trunks.
“I take it you want to ask me something,” Never said.
Peat sighed again. He kept his voice low. “Tell you something, really.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have a funny gift – you’re probably curious, right?”
“I am.”
“Well, my Pa used to joke that I was half-dog, but I could always sniff out a trail where folks had been. Told me his grandfather could do it too.”
“And me?”
“You smell old, like...something I’ve come across before. Recognise it now that I think about it. And I think you might be a good sort, even for a hunter, but it’s almost like your blood is too old. Ancient even. Makes you seem more than human. That sound strange to you?”
Never tried to keep his voice even; could this man know something? “It does.”
“Well, I caught this scent only once before, years back, mind you. In the old cemetery back in Isacina, you know the one on the hill, the one they moved all the imperial bones from?”
“The Gates of Ju-Anna.” Though how such carven stone gates would lead to the Goddess Pacela was up for debate.
“Right. Well, I smelled it there and the trail led to a man. He was digging a hole for a grave, dressed plain, like it was his job. I spoke to him and he seemed friendly enough, only he was funny-looking. Not Marlosi; he was pale. But not even Vadiyem or Hanek. White-ish blond hair and pale blue eyes to go with his light skin. Maybe you should find that man – I’m guessing you’d have much to talk about.”
“Thank you. I will.” Never looked to the ground, giving hope a moment to die in peace. The pale man was his brother – and Snow knew just as little as Never. Yet, what was Snow doing working as a grave-digger in the imperial city? “But I feel there’s more. I can’t see any harm in Luis hearing what you have told me.”
“True. I do have a question.” He paused. “Will you watch out for Luis? I’ve already made up my mind and I know that look in his eye. He thinks there’s hope here now, and maybe there is, but not for me. I’m going home. Maybe even to fight the Vadiya. But he’ll want to search on and I don’t want to worry about my friend.”
Never turned to face the man. Another promise? Hopefully not one he would come to regret – but if it gave Peat some peace...why not? He would have to be doubly careful to ensure there were no mishaps with his blood. “As long as he stays with me I will keep an eye on him.” He held out his hand.
Peat shook it and cleared his throat. “Thank you, Never.”
“And be careful on your way back – Steelhawks were following me.”
He grinned. “I’ll sniff them out, don’t worry about me.”
“Good. Go get some sleep.”
The rest of the watch passed in silence until he finally went to wake Luis. On his way to his own blankets, Never handed Luis the reed pipe. The man accepted it with a nod and stood before the camp, one hand on his spear.
The sounds of the night washed over Never as he lay back, waiting for sleep.
Chapter 5.
When dawn broke Peat was gone and Luis stood before the soft embers of the fire, spinning his spear in a pattern from hands to wrists as he stared into the trees.
“So, we survived,” Never said as he stood and stretched. He sucked in a deep breath, cold air reaching the bottom of his lungs. The fever remained, lurking like a shadow. At least he wasn’t sweating. For now.
“We did.”
“Did you have to play that pipe?”
He shook his head. “I thought he’d stay.”
Never rummaged around in his pack for the last of his apples, hesitating a moment before drawing them out and tossing one to Luis, who caught it with a nod of thanks. “He’s probably safer than we.”
“I hope so.” Luis took a bite.
Never kicked dirt over the fire then gestured toward the edge of the camp. “Lead on, Luis.”
The man took them quickly from the green of the trees and to another greying bridge, this one just as sturdy as the last. The large shapes of other islands, shrouded in sea-mist, stretched before them. “The bridges are in fair condition,” Never said.
“Most are, thankfully. Only a few that gave us a scare and none were too long.”
“Will we catch up to Ferne?”
“I’d say so. It was slow going at first but I know the path now.”
“Good to hear.” Exiting the bridge, Never detoured a pile of rubble. “What can you tell me about Ferne?”
“Big guy without a lot of tolerance. But he’s smart too. He must have a map or something, but I never saw him consult it. He knew which paths to take and how to avoid bad bridges, which links were dead ends. He got us pretty far before those creatures started attacking.”
“So you think the jewels are real?”
Luis laughed. “They have to be because my future’s pretty dim without them.”
Never nodded; he understood that hope. If there were no clues to his true identity in the Amber Isle then he’d hit a wall. A big wall. Every other avenue a dead end. And so he didn’t push Luis for more; the man had to be desperate, however, to take such a chance in coming to the Grey Chain.
By noon they’d crossed a dozen islands, many desolate stone peaks. There had been a gradual sloping down of the islands, the violence of the sea below growing until the white water was barely two feet from the stepping stones that stretched before them. Most were smooth. Some seemed no more than a few feet wide.
At least they weren’t wet, but who knew how long that would hold true?
“Thirty men crossed that?”
Lu
is nodded. “One at a time, anyway. Lost a fellow from Hanik here. Ready?”
“Guess I have to be.”
Luis grinned then leapt to the first stepping stone. He landed easily then leapt again, using his spear for balance as he neared the thinner stones. Never shook the tension from his limbs – or tried to – then ran and jumped. He thudded onto the first stone. Somehow, he kept balance but had to crouch to halt his momentum, a gasp escaping. Jagged rocks churned the water white below. A reef of sorts stretched around the thin path. No wonder ships didn’t simply sail deeper into the islands.
He took a breath and straightened.
Maybe they did further on, but not here.
He leapt to the next stone and spread his arms, a breeze rustling his hair. He blinked when his vision blurred again. Damnable fever. He waited.
“Ho, Never – are you well?” Luis’ voice drifted over the waves.
“A moment,” he called back before starting out again. This time he moved a little quicker, planning his next few jumps and using the forward momentum to reach the next stone. Finally, he reached a larger series of outcroppings and was able to make a running leap to clear the last stretch easily enough.
“Nicely done.” Luis caught his arm when he landed on the new island. Larger, it rose in uneven contours.
Never nodded his thanks and paused to catch his breath.
Luis frowned. “You’re sweating.”
“A fever. It’ll pass.”
“Sure hope so, you’re no good to me passed out.”
“Don’t worry,” Never said. “I’ve dealt with worse.” Although, maybe that was a lie. Most fevers he contracted burnt out within a day or so. Still, he wasn’t going to stop. Not now, not so close.
“Well, hope you’re better by nightfall. If Ferne is still stuck at the door, we’ll reach the party and they’ll expect you to hold your own if we’re attacked.”
Never motioned that they should keep walking. “Tell me about this door?”
“It rests in the rock face but nothing opens it. No key, no handle. The ram we built was useless.”
“No way around it?”
“Ferne says the Sea God’s Jewels are inside. That the maze within the island is where they lie.”
Not unlike what his own map claimed – a passage through the very maze Luis mentioned. Only Never’s map said nothing of how to open the door. “Maybe he’ll have opened it?”
“Five days at it before Peat and I left.”
“Ah. Now I feel really confident.”
Luis laughed, a deep, throaty sound that drew unbidden a smile from Never. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out – now that we have music, it’ll ease the pressure.”
They walked on. The hard rock of the islands rose up around them as they climbed a vague path. Never paused at a carving in the rock. Could it be? It was cut deep and filled with a substance that looked to have burned white into the stone.
A five-pointed leaf.
The very symbol Mother had once drawn in the dirt, showing him how the points matched up with her fingers. The same symbol found on his map. Never made a fist. Finally!
More carvings stretched beyond, running up the walls. Some were half-hidden by slabs of stone that had fallen, or been moved. Some of the steps he took were regular – again, a hint of an older civilisation? Or at least, signs of organised life.
“Have you ever seen carvings like these?” he asked Luis. The fever had eased again – typical of his body. Fight then rest, fight then rest.
“No-where but here. There are more at the door.”
Never trailed a hand over one as he passed, the ridges rough.
At the peak, he paused while Luis took water from his flask. More islands spread across the ocean, only now they were larger, the rope bridges wider. Trees grew on many. The closest even had the remains of a small hut pressed up against an outcrop. “What of that building?” he asked.
“Empty, and the only one I’ve seen in the chain. Must have been a mad fisherman.”
When they reached the hut, Never detoured to step inside the open doorway – once his eyes adjusted it was clear the stone had been set with some skill. Damp assaulted his skin. An old table crumbled against the wall and traces of cloth occupied another corner. An empty hearth sat black with forgotten ash. Thin fish bones lay scattered across the rocky floor but nothing to indicate who the owner of the hut had been. Javiem?
No way to know.
He glanced around, maybe there were other hints of life...Never straightened. In the distance, somewhere on their backtrail – was that a column of smoke? He shaded his eyes. Someone was following. More hunters late to Ferne’s call? Or had Elina decided to follow him after all? It didn’t seem likely.
But there had been more than one group of Steelhawks on his tail.
He swore, then picked up the pace, catching Luis at the next bridge. It was older and longer than the others, the wood white with years of salt. But the pylons were huge and the layers of rope thicker than his upper arms. Once, someone had gone to a lot of trouble to connect the islands. Bless them – he’d be swimming otherwise.
“We might have someone following us,” Never said.
“Who?”
“Vadiya soldiers, probably.” No need to mention Elina. “But they’re a ways back yet.”
“What do they want?” Luis asked.
“Revenge I’d say. Back in Isacina they tried to kill me and I wouldn’t let them.”
“Good for you,” Luis said. “Let’s keep ahead of them, then. Just watch out in the middle of this bridge, there are a few planks missing.” He pointed. “We lost another man here first time.”
“Any advice if we fall in?”
He grinned. “Grow some gills.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He followed Luis onto the bridge. The planks were firm beneath his feet but as they reached the middle a slight sway set his stomach to rolling. The bridge had sagged toward the water, though it was still a fair drop. Luis slowed. “Up ahead, see?”
Many planks were missing and more than a few were no more than stubs with jagged edges.
“Climb the rope,” Luis said. “We’ll go one at a time.”
“Sound thinking there.”
Luis probed the planks nearest the gaping hole then stepped onto the support ropes, their giant knots spread evenly. He gripped the guide rope as he stepped. Such was the thickness of the rope that his weight didn’t tip the bridge much at all. Never still moved to the opposite side to try and counter.
When Luis passed the hole he stopped to wait, moving to use his own weight as an off-set. Never stepped onto the rope. Steady. His pack made things interesting, but he kept a grip on the guide and was across in moments.
“Not too bad,” he said. “I was thinking –”
The bridge erupted beneath him. Sky wheeled. He flailed, hand snapping over the guide rope. Impact from Never’s falling bodyweight strained his shoulder in its socket. Water thrashed. Something dark rose from the depths below, streaming forth to slam into the underside of the damaged bridge. Planks buckled and Never gave a shout. He’d caught a glimpse of scales and a great maw.
“Hold on.” Luis was climbing to his feet, spear in hand. The gap between safe parts of the bridge had grown.
Never got his free hand onto the rope. “Pacela’s Heart, what was that?”
“Hold tight,” Luis shouted.
Below, the creature leapt forth again, rocking the bridge and knocking Never’s legs as it fell away, and tearing his grip free. Never growled as he caught the rope again. Luis was still stranded, unable to cross the gap while the creature lurked below.
Water stirred, now directly below his feet.
Never swung a leg up to the bridge, boot slipping from the rope. He swung again as the creature burst forth, jaw agape
.
Steel flashed between them.
A gurgling hiss followed. Luis’ spear protruded from the creature’s head. It splashed back into the sea. Water sprayed Never and slicked his hands. He ground his teeth. Green blood fouled the sea below, spread by the waves even as he tried again to swing himself up to the support of the bridge.
Still he slipped.
The bridge tilted as Luis appeared above him. He caught one of Never’s hands and pulled.
Never’s leg hooked over the rope and he hauled himself the rest of the way upright, until he straddled the bridge. He gripped the support rope and half-crawled, half-dragged himself after Luis to the planks before he fell back against his pack, chest heaving.
Luis sat beside him, wide-eyed in his shock. Water dripped from his hair and moustache.
“Forgot about that fellow, did we?” Never finally said.
Luis frowned. “That...thing wasn’t there last time.”
Never chuckled in relief. “No matter. And thank you. I certainly owe you my life now, Luis.” Never only hoped he wouldn’t end up repaying Luis by accidently taking the man’s life one day.
“No debt, but do you think we could get off the bridge now? I don’t want to find out the hard way if there are more of those things in the ocean.”
“Good idea.” Never groaned as he rose. “And of course there’s probably more.”
Luis extended a hand and helped him up. “What makes you sure?”
“Trouble. There’s always more of it.”
Chapter 6.
Cold torches mounted on stakes were wedged into the stony earth that ringed the treasure hunters’ camp. It huddled against the rock face, appearing small, vulnerable. While other islands were visible in the choppy water, there was no bridge and the gap too great between islands. The end of the chain.
Largest of all the islands he’d set foot on so far; he’d finally reached the Amber Isle. Not that it looked any different to the others. Mostly barren and grey. Yet the answers he sought, they would be below, somewhere within the island itself.
Late afternoon sun lit a large green tent, around which lay bedrolls and stacks of what seemed to be dwindling provisions. On the edge of the camp, a sea breeze stirred the cloak of the sentry, while the rest of the treasure-hunters – four men only – crowded round a large blaze nearer the tent.